Dancehall artist Kiprich charged for promoting gang activity in

The St. Catherine North Criminal Investigations Branch (CIB) has arrested and charged 45-year-old recording artist Marlon Plunkett, popularly known as Kiprich, in connection with a song that allegedly promotes gang violence.

Plunkett, who resides in Kingston 5, was charged on Monday, February 10, with Use of Audio and Audiovisual Communication to Promote Criminal Activity. Authorities say the charge stems from a dubplate he recorded and disseminated across various media platforms, in which he allegedly endorsed gang violence and paid tribute to members of the One Order gang.

Kiprich’s management team has pushed back against the allegations, claiming the audio was “spliced and changed” to include more inflammatory language than originally intended. According to reports, the deejay recorded the custom-order dubplate for a foreign-based selector in the wake of the death of alleged One Order gang leader Othniel “Thickman” Lobban. Police say Lobban was a key figure in Jamaica’s criminal underworld, with influence in several sections of the island. His fatal shooting by law enforcement last month reportedly sparked a flare-up of violence in Spanish Town.

Kiprich’s arrest followed his designation as a person of interest by St. Catherine North police on Friday, February 7. He was among several men named by authorities who believe they may have information relevant to ongoing investigations into multiple violent incidents across the parish.